Exercise caution about unseaworthy vessels: A V Ramana
New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) President A V Ramana has advised the Indian Coast Guard and the agents of cargo ships to exercise caution about unseaworthy vessels which seek help during emergencies in Indian or international maritime boundaries. He was speaking at a workshop on maritime emergencies, organized by NMPA at a private hotel in Mangaluru on Monday.
“Unseaworthy commercial vessels, without any fitness certificate, operated in the seas throughout the year. But when they face any trouble during inclement weather or cyclones they send emergency alert signals through local agents requesting entry to Indian ports. Our ports and government will be in trouble because of this. Many such ships sink in the middle of the sea during their journey. Our ports will face pollution, along with other problems, in these situations”, A V Ramana said.
He explained how other ships calling at the port will face problems when such unfit vessels sink in the middle of sea. Alleging that such unseaworthy ships get fitness certificates from those countries which have lenient laws, A V Ramana stated that they benefit from the loopholes in Indian legal system. “So when such vessels seek assistance during emergencies, ensure that they possess international insurance”, he added.
A V Ramana stated that “Directorate General of Shipping grants fitness certificates to commercial vessels in India. But all vessels need not get the certificate from the DG itself. The ships may get fitness certificate from countries with more lenient laws. Those who wish to make quick and illegal money get the fitness certificate from foreign countries”.
The NMPA president said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) had been brought out to assist ships in emergencies, which was also brought to the notice of Directorate General of Shipping, Additional Secretary for Shipping and District Disaster Management Authority. “This SOP will help avoid confusions and reduce pollution. It will also help us to stop unseaworthy vessels”, he said.
Assistant Conservator of Mormugao Port Authority Captain Manoj Joshi, Environmental Advisor to the Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways Dr R D Tripathi were the main speakers in the workshop.
Dakshina Kannada DC Mullai Muhilan, who inaugurated the event, said that development of port would complement local development. “Mangalore is a port city. All issues related to port connectivity will be resolved once the work on NH 75, which connects the city to the state capital, is completed. NMPA has come forward to partner with the work of a truck terminal in Mangaluru”, he added.
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What happens to terms Keralite, Keralan: Tharoor's witty take on Keralam replacing Kerala
New Delhi (PTI): Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had a witty take on Kerala's name change on Tuesday, asking what happens now to the terms "Keralite" and "Keralan" for the "denizens" of the new "Keralam".
In a lighter vein, Tharoor said 'Keralamite' sounds like a microbe and 'Keralamian' like a rare earth mineral.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the proposal for altering the name of Kerala to Keralam.
Ahead of the Cabinet decision announcement, Tharoor said, "All to the good, no doubt, but a small linguistic question for the Anglophones among us: what happens now to the terms 'Keralite' and 'Keralan' for the denizens of the new 'Keralam'?
"'Keralamite' sounds like a microbe and 'Keralamian' like a rare earth mineral ! @CMOKerala might want to launch a competition for new terms resulting from this electoral zeal," he said, sharing the media report on the name change.
The Legislative Assembly of Kerala passed a resolution on June 24, 2024 to alter the name of Kerala to Keralam'.
Thereafter, the government of Kerala requested the government of India to take necessary steps to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution by altering the name of Kerala to Keralam according to Article 3 of the Constitution.
The matter regarding the alteration of the name Kerala to Keralam was considered in the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India and with the approval of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the draft note for the Cabinet for changing Kerala to Keralam was circulated to the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department, and the Ministry of Law and Justice for their comments.
The Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department, and the Ministry of Law and Justice have concurred with the proposal for the alteration of Kerala as Keralam.
After approval of the Union Cabinet, the president of India will refer a Bill, namely the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala for expressing its views under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India.
After receipt of the views of the State Legislative Assembly of Kerala, the government of India will take further action and the recommendation of the president will be obtained for the introduction of the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 for the alteration of Kerala as Keralam in Parliament.
Meanwhile, on Monday night, Tharoor said he was truly pleased to see C Rajagopalachari honoured by a statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
"He was its first Indian occupant as the only Indian Governor-General of India, before we became a Republic and he yielded his seat to the new President. I have long admired his convictions and was a strong supporter of his Swatantra Party in my student days," Tharoor said.
"His set of values and principles -- liberal economics and support for free enterprise, combined with social justice; strong anchoring in Indian civilization and religious faith but without a shred of communal bigotry; and a staunch faith in the rights & freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, including keeping the government out of our kitchens, bedrooms and libraries -- remain mine to this day," the Congress MP said.
It is sad that there are so few left to follow him today, Tharoor added on X.
